Lisa Bronson’s story of diagnosis, treatment and recovery from breast cancer premiered on Lifetime Television’s “Speaking of Women’s Health,” a half-hour series hosted by Florence Henderson and Rachel Campos. Andy Warhol said, “In the future, everyone will be world famous for 15 minutes.” Lisa has already been in the spotlight twice as long.
What began for Lisa as an unexpected diagnosis became a journey that she’s now shared with millions of viewers across the U.S.
“When I was asked if I might agree to being filmed, it never occurred to me to say no,” Lisa recalls. “I figured that seeing my story might help personalize the disease and make it less frightening, or inspire more women to get a mammogram.
Early detection is clearly the key to surviving cancer.” For Lisa, national sales director for an upscale shoe manufacturer, an annual mammogram was just part of her healthcare routine. But early this year, her radiologist found an “architectural anomaly” in her breast, and called for another X-ray. Next, an ultrasound was performed. Finally, a core biopsy revealed the presence of cancer cells.
Her doctor, Nora Hansen, M.D., associate director of Breast Surgical
Oncology, had hoped Lisa would only need a minor procedure — but her treatment required a far more extensive series of surgeries and chemotherapy.
And every step of the way, Lisa and her oncology team were filmed for television.
“The camera crew was there for every procedure — the diagnosis, the surgery, the CAT scans,” Lisa says. “It was kind of surreal, but it took away some of the reality of what was happening. It ended up being a really positive experience.”
Rather than being obtrusive, the crew made special efforts to be respectful.“ They were so sensitive and caring, whenever there was bad news, they would just turn off the camera and walk away,” Lisa notes. “I felt they were rooting for me. In a way, they became part of my family.”
Lisa’s son Nick was just 16 when she was diagnosed. For a teenager, having a mom with cancer is hard enough — but do they have to put it on television? Lisa saw that when life turns upside down, you might as well go with it. She’d cut off her luxurious, long blond hair before starting chemo, and Nick wasn’t happy with how his mom looked. So with the cameras rolling, Lisa took him wig shopping.
“Everyone was trying silly wigs on and having fun. I made it as human as I could for him.”
Meanwhile, Lisa’s circle of friends jumped in to support her. “They
came with me to every appointment, every chemotherapy. They were at my house every night, making sure my son had dinner. I wouldn’t have been able to do this without them.”
Lisa calls her friends “a group of remarkable women,” but refuses to be characterized as remarkable herself. “I don’t think I’m special in any way. I’m just a woman who had an opportunity to share her story.
Hopefully someone will watch this show and see that cancer happens to real people, and it’s not an insurmountable challenge.” Still, Lisa’s courage isn’t going unrecognized: the JWCI Auxiliary recently honored her with its “Ellen Cooperman Angel Award.”
Lifetime Television, the number one basic cable network in primetime, reaches over 85 million households nationwide. For Dr. Hansen, that kind of audience presents “a great learning experience, for people to see what Lisa went through.
“A lot of people ignore their health because they’re afraid,” Dr. Hansen explains. “Someone like Lisa puts it in a much more positive light.” And although having a film crew around created some challenges, “if it gets a message out to the public, it’s worthwhile.”
Lisa says she’s glad that JWCI will be in the spotlight as well as herself.
“This is an amazing facility, and I’m very fortunate to have come here. I hope the show will bring attention to the Institute, and maybe encourage people to contribute something to support the Institute’s research.”
“The advances they’re making here are astonishing,” she continues. “In my chemo, they used drugs that had been available for only 30 days. Places like JWCI are bringing that kind of progress to people like me. If having my story on Lifetime is my contribution to
medicine, I’m fine with that.”
For more information on breast cancer, visit the John Wayne Cancer Institute at St. John’s Health Center.